October 04, 2016 - 1:23 PM
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo - Republic of Congo's government says that more than 4,000 people have been driven from their homes in the southern Pool region since April, when members of a former militia group started launching attacks.
Government spokesman Thierry Moungalla said Tuesday that 2,200 people have moved to Kinkala, Pool's capital, and another 1,500 left for other areas. The government blames members of the ex-militia group Ninjas Nsiloulou for killing at least 18 people in the past week.
The army deployed to Pool in April after militiamen killed 17 people. The attack came weeks after longtime President Denis Sassou N'Guesso's re-election.
Frederic Bitsangou, who led the militia until it disbanded in 2003, and who then became high commissioner for peace, has been missing since April.
Military airstrikes in April reportedly killed 30 people.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016